Qatar tribune Agencies Global monetary easing is continuing despite a bumpy path back down to two percent inflation. And while global GDP growth for 2025 is forecast to be broadly unchanged from 2023-2024 at 3.2 percent, the world economy seems at a pivotal juncture, given the re-election of Trump as US president. That election has already contributed to shifting the US interest rate outlook, with markets now expecting the Fed funds rate will be 75-100 bps higher, by end-2025, than when the Fed started cutting rates in September. In the Euro-zone, the ECB is set to deliver a fourth rate cut this month given a weakening outlook and increased trade uncertainties. In the UK, the economy has lost momentum, but the expansionary budget should lift growth and inflation next year. In Japan, the BoJ is finally set to resume its monetary policy normalization by hiking rates in December or January, after pausing for two meetings. Finally, China’s macroeconomic outlook has become even more uncertain, but the likelihood of a sizable fiscal policy support in 2025 has increased. Even with the Fed’s prior aggressive monetary tightening, the US economy continued to record strong growth, standing at 2.8 percent (annualized) in Q3, slightly below 3 percent in Q2. A resilient consumer amid robust wage growth (more than 4 percent y/y for the past three years), and supportive wealth effects from record-high stock and housing prices, has been a key driver of this momentum as seen in ongoing solid growth in private consumption (3.5 percent in Q3). GDP looks on track to record further robust two percent growth in Q4, and the IMF forecasts decent 2.2 percent growth in 2025. And while headline PCE inflation continued to broadly decelerate, the core rate has been stuck at around 2.6 percent-2.8 percent y/y for the past six months, with projections that both rates will inch up in the coming months, complicating the Fed’s job. Meanwhile, the major worry about a rapidly deteriorating labor market that surfaced following July’s employment situation report proved overblown and was short-lived. Monthly job gains averaged 173K in the three months to November, only slightly weaker than the January-August average, with the unemployment rate increasing to a still-low 4.2 percent in November from 3.7 percent at end-2023, indicating that the labor market continues to cool but remains robust, and not signaling any imminent economic downturn. With the election of Donald Trump as president, along with the Republican Party’s sweep of Congress, the US economy is at a crossroads. Trump’s plan to focus on deregulation, increase oil production, and, most importantly, cut taxes may boost GDP in the shortterm, but along with his plans to enact sweeping tariff hikes and conduct extensive illegal immigrant deportations can possibly lead to higher interest rates/inflation, a big rise in debt (which is already on an unsustainable path), and pressure on GDP growth over the medium term. In fact, Trump’s election has contributed, along with the recent inflation and growth trends, to a major change in the interest rate outlook with markets currently expecting only a 75 to 100 cumulative cut by end-2025, bringing down the Fed funds rate (upper limit) to 3.75 percent-4 percent, up from 3 percent when the Fed first cut rates by an outsized 50 bps in mid-September. The Euro-zone economy grew by a higher-than-expected 0.4 percent q/q in Q3, up from 0.2 percent in Q2, the strongest expansion in two years with growth in retail sales in August through October above 2 percent y/y, more than a two-year high. However, this momentum seems to be fading in Q4 with the composite PMI dropping to a 10-month low of 48.3 in November while the services PMI (49.5) fell below the 50-threshold for the first time since January. Given this weakness, the euro has been under pressure, touching two-year lows recently and is down by around 6 percent versus the USD since the end of September. Against this backdrop, the ECB still seems adamant in prioritizing growth over further disinflation and is almost certain to cut rates by 25 bps in its 12 December meeting, the fourth cut since monetary easing commenced in June. This is despite core inflation remaining stuck at 2.7 percent y/y for three months, services inflation still elevated at 3.9 percent y/y in November, and wage growth remaining higher-than-wished at 4.5 percent y/y in Q2. After hitting a trough of 1.7 percent y/y in September, headline inflation reaccelerated to 2.3 percent in November driven by energy-related base effects, but is seen falling back to the 2 percent target in the course of 2025. Looking ahead, the trade-dependent and currently sluggish Euro-zone economy faces increased headwinds given the possibility of 10 percent-20 percent blanket tariff enacted by the Trump administration, which if materializes, will be at a time of already fractious relations and trade with China, noting that US/China are the Euro-zone’s two largest trading partners. Furthermore, the outlook for the block’s two largest economies, Germany and France, is increasingly uncertain given the former’s snap election set for February and the latter’s recent government fall following the budget debacle. The UK economy has weakened lately, with GDP growth in Q3 slowing to a near-standstill of 0.1 percent q/q from 0.5 percent in Q2 and 0.7 percent in Q1. The Autumn budget’s painful measures likely contributed to the composite PMI falling to a 13-month low of just above 50 in November (50.5). After the Labor party’s landslide election victory in July, and given the relatively poor fiscal situation, Chancellor Reeves announced in the budget several revenue-raising measures (an additional £40 billion/year), but also a greater increase in outlays (by around £70 billion/year), resulting in higher projected budget deficits (4.5 percent of GDP in FY24 and FY25) than previously expected. The bond market initially sold-off, but then stabilized with yields on 10-year government paper currently not far from their pre-budget levels. The Bank of England (BoE), in its updated forecasts released in November, and given the expansionary budget, upgraded the GDP growth forecast for 2025 to 1.5 percent from 1 percent earlier, but lowered this year’s to around 1 percent from 1.2 percent. Meanwhile, with headline inflation having steadily come down to near the 2 percent target, the BoE delivered a second 25 bps rate cut in its November meeting. However, the measures for core inflation, services inflation, and wage growth all remain elevated while headline inflation is seen re-accelerating until Q3 2025, partly driven by the expansionary budget as well as household energy costs, and then gradually falling, hitting target again only in 2027. Given that, along with a better economic outlook next year, the BoE will likely follow a cautious approach in terms of monetary easing, with the futures market currently expecting only three more 25 bps rate cuts by the end of 2025. GDP growth slowed to 0.3 percent q/q in Q3 from 0.5 percent in Q2, driven by declining investment spending and net exports while private consumption growth improved slightly to 0.7 percent q/q (0.6 percent in Q2) benefiting from the robust increase in wages and the tax cut program that started in June. PMI figures for October/November indicate likely further deceleration in economic activities in Q4. Copy 13/12/2024 10AP Trending SummaryBrief at 3:39 p.m. EST
Aaron Rodgers' future with the New York Jets is as cloudy as it has ever been before. That's what happens when the team sits at a dismal 3-8 record and has already fired the general manager and head coach that the quarterback seemingly saved when their jobs were up for debate after the 2023 season. Making matters even more interesting has been multiple reports from different media circles stating Rodgers' reluctance to return to the Jets following the 2024 season. Whether it be through retirement, or by release, it had appeared the four-time NFL MVP's time in New York was coming to a close. © Brad Penner-Imagn Images At last, that's what was originally thought. Speaking on the Pat McAfee show, Rodgers offered a completely different thought process compared to what had been previously reported. Not only did the 41-year-old suggest he could play next season, but that he would be more than happy to return to the Jets. "I've really enjoyed my time in New York," Rodgers said. "Obviously we haven't had the success we've all wanted to have, but I've made some great friendships on the team. I've enjoyed living in Jersey. I've enjoyed time in the city, I've enjoyed getting to know the fans, & I came here to win here, so I'm not jumping off ship." These reports started last week with The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt detailing what exactly went wrong with the Jets this year. Rodgers and owner Woody Johnson were key names in the piece with their own share of blame for the struggles the team has gone for. But while Russini and Rosenblatt have plenty of sources to discuss the status of what could happen with New York's starting quarterback, Rodgers made it clear they didn't come specifically from his camp. "I don't talk to that person" Rodgers explained citing Russini's article specifically. "There's obviously people she talks with, but when it comes to me, my circle is really small. I'm not talking to people who are talking to people like that. At best it's a 3rd game of telephone with me." Related: Inside The Jets 'Big Lie' About Aaron Rodgers So here we are. A quarterback who wants you to believe exactly what he is saying compared to multiple national media pundits who have stated the Jets and Rodgers are heading for a split. Who exactly is to believe here? It's important to remember that while Russini and Rosenblatt reported first regarding the unlikelihood of Rodgers returning to the Jets, they were not the only ones either. For so many different reporters to detail similar stories to what The Athletic first wrote is a sign that there might be some truth to those initial reports. That doesn't mean Rodgers' is wrong either, though. New York will be under new management this offseason. If a new general manager doesn't want to deal with Rodgers, he could very well move on from him. And just because there's some frustration with the lack of stability going on around the organization doesn't mean he's ok with leaving the team after this year. At the end of the day, the truth of these reports won't be fully known until the completion of the 2024 season and the hiring of the key front office roles for the Jets. Related: Spiraling Jets Reveal Playing Time Plan For Aaron RodgersWASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. FILE - The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Zhangjiakou, China, on Feb. 2, 2022. A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” US officials recommend encrypted messaging apps amid "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack, attributed to China, targeting AT&T, Verizon, and others. The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online. Picture this: You're on vacation in a city abroad, exploring museums, tasting the local cuisine, and people-watching at cafés. Everything is going perfectly until you get a series of alerts on your phone. Someone is making fraudulent charges using your credit card, sending you into a panic. How could this have happened? Cyberattacks targeting travelers are nothing new. But as travel has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so has the volume of hackers and cybercriminals preying upon tourists. Financial fraud is the most common form of cybercrime experienced by travelers, but surveillance via public Wi-Fi networks, social media hacking, and phishing scams are also common, according to a survey by ExpressVPN . Spokeo consulted cybersecurity sources and travel guides to determine some of the best ways to protect your phone while traveling, from using a VPN to managing secure passwords. Online attacks are not the only type of crime impacting travelers—physical theft of phones is also a threat. Phones have become such invaluable travel aids, housing our navigation tools, digital wallets, itineraries, and contacts, that having your phone stolen, lost, or compromised while abroad can be devastating. Meanwhile, traveling can make people uniquely vulnerable to both cyber and physical attacks due to common pitfalls like oversharing on social media and letting your guard down when it comes to taking risks online. Luckily, there are numerous precautions travelers can take to safeguard against cyberattacks and phone theft. Hackers can—and do—target public Wi-Fi networks at cafés and hotels to gain access to your personal information or install malware onto your device, particularly on unsecured networks. Travelers are especially vulnerable to these types of cybersecurity breaches because they are often more reliant on public Wi-Fi than they would be in their home countries where they have more robust phone plans. This reliance on public, unsecured networks means travelers are more likely to use those networks to perform sensitive tasks like financial transfers, meaning hackers can easily gain access to banking information or other passwords. One easy way to safeguard yourself against these breaches is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, while traveling. VPNs are apps that encrypt your data and hide your location, preventing hackers from accessing personal information. An added bonus is that VPNs allow you to access websites that may be blocked or unavailable in the country you are visiting. To use a VPN, simply download a VPN app on your phone or computer, create an account, choose a server, and connect. Pickpockets, scammers, and flagrant, snatch-your-phone-right-out-of-your-hand thieves can be found pretty much everywhere. In London, for instance, a staggering 91,000 phones were reported stolen to police in 2022 , breaking down to an average of 248 per day, according to the BBC. Whether you're visiting a crowded tourist attraction or just want peace of mind, travel experts advise taking precautions to make sure your phone isn't physically stolen or compromised while traveling. There are several antitheft options to choose from. If you want a bag that will protect your phone from theft, experts recommend looking for features like slash-resistant fabric, reinforced shoulder straps, hidden zippers that can be locked, and secure attachment points, like a cross-body strap or a sturdy clip. For tethers, look for those made of tear-resistant material with a reinforced clip or ring. If your phone falls into the wrong hands, there's a good chance you won't be getting it back. Out of those 91,000 phones stolen in London in 2022, only 1,915 (or about 2%) were recovered. The good news is that you can take precautions to make the loss of your phone less devastating by backing up your data before you travel. With backed-up data, you can acquire a new device and still access your photos, contacts, messages, and passwords. Moreover, if you have "Find My Device" or "Find My Phone" enabled, you can remotely wipe your stolen phone's data so the thief cannot access it. It's safest to back up your data to a hard drive and not just the cloud. That way, if you have to wipe your device, you don't accidentally erase the backup, too. In order for the previous tip on this list to work, "Find My Phone" must be turned on in advance, but remotely wiping your device isn't the only thing this feature allows you to do. The "Find My Phone" feature enables you to track your device, as long as it's turned on and not in airplane mode. This is particularly helpful if you misplaced your phone or left it somewhere since it can help you retrace your steps. While this feature won't show you the live location of a phone that has been turned off, it will show the phone's last known location. With "Find My Phone," you can also remotely lock your phone or enable "Lost Mode," which locks down the phone, suspends any in-phone payment methods, and displays contact information for returning the phone to you. If your phone was stolen, experts caution against taking matters into your own hands by chasing down the thief, since this could land you in a potentially dangerous situation and is unlikely to result in getting your phone back. Strong passwords for important accounts help protect your information while you travel, but it's just a first step. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends creating long, unique, and complex passwords for every account and combining them with multifactor authentication to create maximum barriers to entry. If you're worried about remembering these passwords, password managers can be a vital tool for both creating and storing strong passwords. Password managers are apps that act as secure vaults for all your passwords. Some even come with a feature that allows you to temporarily delete sensitive passwords before you travel and then easily restore them once you return. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
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ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani security forces launched an operation Tuesday night to disperse supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan who had gathered in the capital to demand his release from prison. The latest development came hours after thousands of Khan supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former prime minister began a “long march” from the restive northwest to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for over a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing nighttime operation, and police are also seeking to arrest Bibi. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorized the police to respond as necessary,” Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Ali said. “If they fire bullets again, we will respond with bullets,” he said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for The Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in a hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Most demonstrators had the flag of Khan’s party around their shoulders or wore its tricolors on accessories. Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information Minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. He said the government did not want Bushra Bibi to achieve her goal of freeing Khan. “She wants bodies falling to the ground. She wants bloodshed,” he said. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed. Pakistan's Stock Exchange lost more than $1.7 billion Tuesday due to rising political tensions, according to economist Mohammed Sohail from Topline Securities. Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, contributed to this report.Extensive confidential documents in the lead-up to the collapse of Northern Ireland’s institutions in 2002 have been made available to the public as part of annual releases from the Irish National Archives. They reveal that the Irish Government wanted to appeal to the UK side against “manipulating” every scenario for favourable election results in Northern Ireland, in an effort to protect the peace process. In the years after the landmark 1998 Good Friday Agreement, a number of outstanding issues left the political environment fraught with tension and disagreement. Mr Trimble, who won a Nobel Peace Prize with SDLP leader John Hume for their work on the Agreement, was keen to gain wins for the UUP on policing, ceasefire audits and paramilitary disarmament – but also to present his party as firmer on these matters amid swipes from its Unionist rival, the DUP. These issues were at the front of his mind as he tried to steer his party into Assembly elections planned for May 2003 and continue in his role as the Executive’s first minister despite increasing political pressure. The documents reveal the extent to which the British and Irish Governments were trying to delicately resolve the contentious negotiations, conscious that moves seen as concessions to one group could provoke anger on the other side. In June 2002, representatives of the SDLP reported to Irish officials on a recent meeting between Mr Hume’s successor Mark Durkan and Prime Minister Tony Blair on policing and security. Mr Blair is said to have suggested that the SDLP and UUP were among those who both supported and took responsibility for the Good Friday Agreement. The confidential report of the meeting says that Mr Durkan, the deputy First Minister, was not sure that Mr Trimble had been correctly categorised. The Prime Minister asked if the SDLP could work more closely with the UUP ahead of the elections. Mr Durkan argued that Mr Trimble was not only not saleable to nationalists, but also not saleable to half of the UUP – to which Mr Blair and Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid are said to have laughed in agreement. The SDLP leader further warned that pursuing a “save David” campaign would ruin all they had worked for. Damien McAteer, an adviser for the SDLP, was recorded as briefing Irish officials on September 10 that it was his view that Mr Trimble was intent on collapsing the institutions in 2003 over expected fallout for Sinn Fein in the wake of the Colombia Three trial, where men linked to the party were charged with training Farc rebels – but predicted the UUP leader would be “in the toilet” by January, when an Ulster Unionist Council (UUC) meeting was due to take place. A week later in mid September, Mr Trimble assured Irish premier Bertie Ahern that the next UUC meeting to take place in two days’ time would be “okay but not great” and insisted he was not planning to play any “big game”. It was at that meeting that he made the bombshell announcement that the UUP would pull out of the Executive if the IRA had not disbanded by January 18. The move came as a surprise to the Irish officials who, along with their UK counterparts, did not see the deadline as realistic. Sinn Fein described the resolution as a “wreckers’ charter”. Doubts were raised that there would be any progress on substantive issues as parties would not be engaged in “pre-election skirmishing”. As that could lead to a UUP walkout and the resulting suspension of the institutions, the prospect of delaying the elections was raised while bringing forward the vote was ruled out. Therefore, the two Governments stressed the need to cooperate as a stabilising force to protect the Agreement – despite not being sure how that process would survive through the January 18 deadline. The Irish officials became worried that the British side did not share their view that Mr Trimble was not “salvageable” and that the fundamental dynamic in the UUP was now Agreement scepticism, the confidential documents state. In a meeting days after the UUC announcements, Mr Reid is recorded in the documents as saying that as infuriating as it was, Mr Trimble was at that moment the “most enlightened Unionist we have”. The Secretary said he would explore what the UUP leader needed to “survive” the period between January 18 and the election, believing a significant prize could avoid him being “massacred”. Such planning went out the window just weeks later, when hundreds of PSNI officers were involved in raids of several buildings – including Sinn Fein’s offices in Stormont. The resulting “Stormontgate” spy-ring scandal accelerated the collapse of powersharing, with the UUP pulling out of the institutions – and the Secretary of State suspending the Assembly and Executive on October 14. For his part, Irish officials were briefed that Mr Reid was said to be “gung ho” about the prospect of exercising direct rule – reportedly making no mention of the Irish Government in a meeting with Mr Trimble and Mr Durkan on that day. The Northern Ireland Secretary was given a new role and Paul Murphy was appointed as his successor. A note on speaking points for a meeting with Mr Murphy in April showed that the Irish side believed the May elections should go ahead: “At a certain stage the political process has to stand on its own feet. “The Governments cannot be manipulating and finessing every scenario to engineer the right result. “We have to start treating the parties and the people as mature and trusting that they have the discernment to make the right choices.” However, the elections planned for May did not materialise, instead delayed until November. Mr Trimble would go on to lose his Westminster seat – and stewardship of the UUP – in 2005. The November election saw the DUP emerge as the largest parties – but direct rule continued as Ian Paisley’s refused to share power with Sinn Fein, which Martin McGuinness’ colleagues. The parties eventually agreed to work together following further elections in 2007. – This article is based on documents in 2024/130/5, 2024/130/6, 2024/130/15
Smokers have been urged to kick the habit in the new year after new analysis shows how much of their lives are lost by each cigarette smoked. Men lose 17 minutes of life with every cigarette they smoke while a woman’s life is cut short by 22 minutes with each cigarette, experts have estimated. This is more than previous estimates, which suggest that each cigarette shortens a smoker’s life by 11 minutes. The new estimates, which suggest that each cigarette leads to 20 minutes loss of live on average across both genders, are based on more up-to-date figures from long-term studies tracking the health of the population. Researchers from University College London said that the harm caused by smoking is “cumulative” and the sooner a person stops smoking, and the more cigarettes they avoid smoking, the longer they live. The new analysis, commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, suggests that if a 10-cigarettes-a-day smoker quits on January 1, then by January 8 they could “prevent loss of a full day of life”. By February 20, their lives could be extended by a whole week. And if their quitting is successful until August 5, they will likely live for a whole month longer than if they had continued to smoke. The authors added: “Studies suggest that smokers typically lose about the same number of healthy years as they do total years of life. Make 2025 the year you quit smoking for good. There’s lots of free support available to help you. Find out more 🔽 — WHH 🏥 (@WHHNHS) “Thus smoking primarily eats into the relatively healthy middle years rather than shortening the period at the end of life, which is often marked by chronic illness or disability. “So a 60-year-old smoker will typically have the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker.” The analysis, to be published in the Journal of Addiction, concludes: “We estimate that on average, smokers in Britain who do not quit lose approximately 20 minutes of life expectancy for each cigarette they smoke. “This is time that would likely be spent in relatively good health. “Stopping smoking at every age is beneficial but the sooner smokers get off this escalator of death the longer and healthier they can expect their lives to be.” Dr Sarah Jackson, principal research fellow from the UCL Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group, said: “It is vital that people understand just how harmful smoking is and how much quitting can improve their health and life expectancy. “The evidence suggests people lose, on average, around 20 minutes of life for each cigarette they smoke. “The sooner a person stops smoking, the longer they live. “Quitting at any age substantially improves health and the benefits start almost immediately. “It’s never too late to make a positive change for your health and there are a range of effective products and treatments that can help smokers quit for good.” There are so many reasons to quit smoking this New Year – for your health, for more money, and for your family. Make a fresh quit for 2025 – find tips and support at or — North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (@NTeesHpoolNHSFT) Health officials have said that smokers can find advice, support and resources with the NHS Quit Smoking app, as well as the online Personal Quit Plan. Public health minister Andrew Gwynne said: “Smoking is an expensive and deadly habit and these findings reveal the shocking reality of this addiction, highlighting how important it is to quit. “The new year offers a perfect chance for smokers to make a new resolution and take that step.” Commenting on the paper, Professor Sanjay Agrawal, special adviser on tobacco at the Royal College of Physicians, said: “Every cigarette smoked costs precious minutes of life, and the cumulative impact is devastating, not only for individuals but also for our healthcare system and economy. “This research is a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address cigarette smoking as the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the UK.”Stock market today: Tech stocks and AI pull Wall Street to more recordsTerrell Owens Takes Massive Shot at Brett Favre Over Alleged Money Stealing ScandalNeuroPace to Host Investor Day on January 28th in New York City
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